Balance of Power (Sign Up/Rules/Commentary Thread)

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Secretary Hay is considering accepting a proposal that would increase the risk that America ends up allied to both sides in a future European war.  Fortunately, he has the sense to wait until the results of the next election before entangling this country into a more complicated web of diplomatic chicanery. Or perhaps he doubts he has the necessary two-thirds of the Senate to assent to any new treaties.  While it is perhaps unfortunately true that the McKinley administration has led the United States across a bridge we cannot uncross, that does not mean that we should compound error with error, but that we should simplify our entanglements so that they do not lead us into the risk of being on both sides of the next European war.

Secretary Hay seems to thrive on risks, which perhaps explains his apparent inability to comment on proposals to enhance the safety of those who work in our farms and factories, of which the eight hour day is the most important, especially in those occupations where fatigue carries not merely a risk of poorly done work, but a risk of losing one's life or limb.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

While this party has run a good race, better than anyone might have imagined a year ago, given the reported results I have sent Secretary Hay a telegram congratulating him.  At least we can take some solace in the fact that any treaties he seeks to fetter our republic with will require bipartisan support in the Senate to get the necessary two-thirds support to pass there.  Given that one of the alliances Secretary Hay concluded is to a caliph who considers declarations of war to be a joking matter, it is good that President Hay won't have an entirely free hand in making more such alliances.  Domestically, there might be cause for concern since the Republicans have majorities in both houses of Congress, but since President-elect Hay never campaigned on any domestic issues, there appears to be little to be worried about other than missed opportunities rather than any serious harm to be done to our republic. I pray that if my impressions of what a Hay administration will be prove wrong, it will be in a positive manner.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

While this party has run a good race, better than anyone might have imagined a year ago, given the reported results I have sent Secretary Hay a telegram congratulating him.  At least we can take some solace in the fact that any treaties he seeks to fetter our republic with will require bipartisan support in the Senate.  Given that one of the alliances Secretary Hay concluded is to a caliph who considers declarations of war to be a joking matter, it is good that President Hay won't have an entirely free hand in making more such alliances.

Hey, that was OOC

We have a phonograph record of someone who sounds like you making such comments.

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[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

One can't help but think that the Austro-German claims of fighting to liberate non-Russians from Tzarist misrule would be strengthened if the Habsburgs and Hohenzollerns relinquished at least some of the Polish people and land that they seized during the partitions of Poland to the new Polish kingdom.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

So it appears that the Bulgarians are to have a ten-year old boy king, and one of his younger sisters. the older of which is but six, is to be kept hostage in Constantinople. Even the prophet Mohammed did not tear a six year old girl from her home despite having married her, waiting until she was nine to consummate the marriage to his child bride.  Yet the Caliph dares to do so with only vague promises of respecting her safety, dignity and welfare.  One wonders if he plans on slaking his own Turkish lusts on her in a few more years or perhaps he intends to gift the girl to one of his sons, of course only after having made her a child bride as well so as to respect her "dignity".

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

I happen to think that being an ally to a country that takes little girls as hostages is hardly a great triumph of diplomacy.  I sincerely hope the Senate rejects the proposed Triple Entente that President Hay has signed and remind him that in any event he will need the votes of Democratic Senators to ratify it.  We have nothing to gain but further dishonor by associating with Ottoman barbarism.  If President Hay thinks having little girls being sent off to Constantinople is of no concern, I suggest he should pick one of his granddaughters to go live there, separated from the rest of her family.

(OOC: By the way, I noticed that John Hay's youngest son was named Clarence.  Only found details on the kids of one of John Hay's kids, but Joan Whitney (the future founder of the New York Mets) is not quite two in late 1904, so I didn't name her specifically as the suggested hostage to fortune, but I think it safe to presume she has cousins on her mother's side of the family that would be of a suitable age.)

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

OOC-can you please point out where this little girl situation comes from......I do not know what you are referencing

Treaty of Constantinople

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x Abdul Hamid II

Princess Eudoxia is only six years old in late 1904 and her sister Princess Nadezhda is only five.  Also the new Tzar Boris is only ten years old and thus will need to have a regency council, tho the composition of that council is not specified by the Treaty of Constantinople.  At least we need not be worried about who Tzar Boris' mother will choose to live with.  She died in 1899, so she has no need to decide between husband, son, or daughter as they go their separate ways.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Regardless---any Senator foolish enough to oppose our alliance with the Ottomans needs to resign
In this century- there has no been an alliance so mutually beneficial in the world.

Apparently President Hay forgets that it is the Senate of the United States and not the Senate of the so-called Republican party.  In a republic, the head of state is not sovereign, the people are.  And if the people disapprove of those who disapprove of the taking of child hostages, they can vote in those like President Hay who care not what others do, so long as they don't do it to us.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

I was elected- and my party expanded our majorities in both houses of Congress

The people.....have SPOKEN!

Those same people denied you the two-thirds majority in the Senate needed to conduct a unilateral foreign policy.  Furthermore, I doubt that the people spoke in favor of being further entangled with those who take child hostages, since that issue did not arise during the campaign just concluded.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

As of all that sick, twisted things of sexual nature the honorable gentleman was talking about, I'm only troubled about his mental health.

I am surprised that the Caliph would call something Muhammad did sick and twisted.  Pleased, but surprised.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

I hear that President Hay has chosen to host the upcoming summit in Milwaukee, allegedly because of its German ties, yet I would point out that St. Louis also has strong German ties and in addition is home to the King of Beers.  While I hope the Senate will reject the proposed Triple Entente treaty, it requires no treaty to host a summit, nor do I think that a summit is a bad idea.  It would even be beneficial to have a summit with all the nations that we have entangled ourselves with military alliances.  However, it would likely need to be in a larger city than Milwaukee to provide sufficient hotel space for all of the foreign potentates and their entourages while not inconveniencing the general public.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

I ask the Italian and Ottoman forces to siege the port city and I will link up with them once I've gotten Raisuli from the north and south.

As you wish.

Is Dread Pirate Roberts leading the Ottoman Navy these days?

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Germany fully condemns any foreign power taking advantage of the situation

OOC: how ironic

ooc: ironic? germany's the only western power who isn't gangraping morocco iirc

What about the UK

The UK is a worldwide power.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

I wish to apologize in full for ever calling President McKinley a war-monger.  After having seen the actions of President Hay, I now see the true meaning of the word. Rather than being dragged into a war because we stood by our allies, President Hay has brought our country the shame of being the first to declare war in this latest fracas.  I can only hope that when the dust settles, the new stars added to our flag from the Dominions of Canada and Newfoundland will bring a much needed calm to our nation after years of Republican frenziness.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

everybody's wondering what's up with Austria-Hungary and Japan.

In the case of Austria-Hungary, there's the question of what could they possibly gain.  They're already in the middle of absorbing Ruthenia which they gained in the last war, and the ability they showed indicated they aren't exactly capable of doing much on their own militarily, tho that may have been due primarily to the leadership.   Ethnically, the only area that would likely be a comfortable fit for them would be the German Catholic areas of the German Empire, and declaring war on Germany unless it is already losing makes zero sense.  In that case, the Habsburg Empire only needs to declare war in time to give the victorious Allies an excuse to transfer Bavaria to Austria.

The relative inaction of the Japanese is somewhat of a surprise.  I can understand the desire to avoid any major invasions until a clearer idea of the intentions of their enemies in the Asian theater and of the neutrals Russia and China, but I'd have thought they would have planned at least one major raid on Indochina, Sabah, Nauru, or New Caledonia.  The two former places are near to the Philippines and Nauru and New Caledonia both have vital war materials.  Especially, New Caledonia even tho it isn't in easy striking distance for the Japanese.  With the loss of Canada, New Caledonia is the only remaining known major source of nickle under Blue control.  (Nickel deposits in Africa that are under Blue control were not discovered in OTL until the 1920s and those in Australia weren't found until the 1960s.)  If the Blues lose New Caledonia, their ability to make quality machine tools and armor plate will be quite limited unless they have some strategic stockpiles in reserve.  The need to defend New Caledonia is likely to cause the Anglo-French alliance to concentrate its forces in the Pacific in the Central Pacific either in defense of Nauru or a preemptive offense to make even raiding it to disrupt the supply of nickel less likely.  The taking of Samoa was helpful, but the action in Hawaii is a waste of British resources in my opinion since it failed to take the islands as had been hoped.  Not that it was a bad idea.  Japan was late to the war and if the Hawaiian operation had succeeded, the British Navy in the Pacific would have been free to concentrate upon the Japanese possessions.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Can I have a little more time to do the French orders? After all I am commanding two countries each who have loads of moves each turn

How long does it take to write surrender notes?

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

To His Excellency: President Portfiro Diaz

For His Eyes Only: Intelligence Assessment of the Great War

Alemania:
Unless a major power joins the Entente or some of their allies decide to quit while they are ahead, it is difficult to see how Alemania will do any worse than a favorably negotiated peace.

Argentina:
It's odd that having declared war they haven't tried to take the Malvinas, or perhaps they tried but the news was bad enough for both sides they are both keeping quiet.

Brasil:
Unless Brasil is intent upon taking some of islands in the Caribbean or South Atlantic, it is difficult to see why it chose to attack both los franceses and los británicos.  Guayana Británica is only accessible to them by jungle or sea and Venezuela can't be happy to see land it has historically claimed slip out of its grasp.

La Estados Unidos:
Aside from the seizure of Canadá at the start of the war, the E.U. has done shockingly poorly considering they started the war.  The lack of maritime offensives and the pullback from Hawai suggests that either the E.U. has done far worse in the naval war than their propaganda would suggest or that they are planning for a major operation elsewhere.  In either case, it may well be that they would be willing to accept a token payment for both Clipperton Island and our former island possessions they acquired previously in this game, both for the money and to concentrate forces they have there elsewhere.  A discrete inquiry might be made provided it is not seen as any sort of "or else" proposal.  Whatever weaknesses the Yanqui Navy may be suffering from, there is no reason to doubt the Yanqui Army at present and that would is sufficient to cause us to tread carefully with them.

Francia:
They are only doing atrociously poorly on the alemán front, which unfortunately for them is the only one that matters.  They should be sending out feelers for a separate peace vis a vis alemania alone, but whether the alemanes and franceses can agree to terms is unknown, especially with the collapse of the French government and the policies of its replacement yet to be determined.

Gran Bretaña:
If the alemanes don't try to impose too harsh a peace on Francia, G.B. is likely to go along with it to free up resources to retake Canada.  Whether they try an invasion likely to be doomed or a blockade that may well succeed, any effort to reclaim Canada is likely going to have to be done at the negotiating table, and even then the best they are likely to achieve is a nominally independent Canada.

Italia:
Given how distracted their enemies are by other more important fronts than the Mediterranean, their seizure of Malta can hardly be considered a solace for the setbacks they've suffered elsewhere.

Japón
They cannot be happy at the course of the war so far.  The apparent collapse of the yanqui navy in the Pacific leaves them to shoulder the fight alone, with only distance and lack of resources on the part of their enemies giving them comfort.

Turquía:
While they have made some advances, it's difficult to see any major changes resulting whoever comes out on top in the Middle East.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Reports are reaching us here in Antwerp that unspecified agents are boasting about a successful plot to sabotage the carbon paper used by the British Ministry of War in a manner that has caused their typewriters to gum up and crash, leaving their paper a blue mess.  We've also heard that applying boot polish to the typewriter mechanism is able to prevent the problem, but only for a while, so the typewriters are having to be rebooted as needed.